Something Triangular Flew Over Area 51, and No One’s Saying Much

Welcome back. Today’s lineup includes a flying tortilla chip over the desert and trees that may or may not be auditioning for an action movie. None of this is urgent, but all of it is real. Take a breath, sip your coffee, and let’s look at what the world decided to do today. — Doug Marlowe

Today's Stories

Something Triangular Flew Over Area 51, and No One’s Saying Much

A late-night videographer near Area 51 filmed what looked like a flying triangle, flat, wide, and shaped enough like a Dorito to earn the nickname. It didn’t match the usual stealth bomber outline, though it wasn’t clear enough to rule anything out either. That’s sort of the point with Area 51: everything is blurry, classified, or both. Maybe it’s new tech, maybe it’s old tech, or maybe it’s just a reminder that the desert keeps secrets better than most people. Either way, it’s comforting to know someone is still watching the skies while the rest of us sleep.

Meteorologists are warning that extreme cold across the Midwest could cause trees to split open with loud cracking sounds. It’s called frost cracking, and it happens when frozen sap expands faster than the bark can handle. To anyone outside the science world, this mostly sounds like winter showing off. With temperatures dropping far below zero and storms spreading across much of the country, this is one more thing to add to the seasonal checklist. At this point, even the trees seem tired of January.

If any of this made you pause, smile, or quietly sigh, then my work here is done. More tomorrow, assuming nothing stranger happens, which is never a safe bet. — Doug